St. Vincent de Paul’s Schlies Resource Center provides real solutions

Article provided by Jack Boisen, Administrative Director, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Inc.

St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County (SVdP), the area’s largest nonprofit human-services provider, opened a new facility in spring 2025 to better serve unhoused individuals who need help to achieve stability and permanent housing. The Schlies Resource Center (SRC) is in a renovated modular office building at 470 Hwy. 99N, adjacent to the Eugene Service Station (ESS), where SVdP has provided critical programs for the unhoused since the 1990s.

The SRC forms an onsite service hub where those already seeking assistance through ESS can tap into the wealth of stabilizing resources offered by many other nonprofits and governmental agencies. The convenient central location allows for a new level of streamlined, interagency service delivery under one roof.

In just the past three months, the SRC has helped 177 individuals access services 308 times from the variety of participating providers.

“Our Highway 99 programs serve as a refuge for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said SVdP Executive Director Bethany Cartledge. “They provide a place to heal from sickness and injury, to get support accessing housing, to seek respite through daytime and overnight shelter, to savor warm meals, find accessible restrooms and showers, do their laundry, and connect with community partner programs. And the ability for our clients to make those connections is stronger than ever since we opened the SRC.

“We are proud to be a community leader in this initiative to bring together partner agencies for the shared mission of caring for vulnerable populations,” Cartledge added.

The current roster of providers at the center includes Senior & Disability Services (SDS), SNAP Training & Employment Program, Lane County Public Health, White Bird Clinic, Oregon Department of Human Services, Lane County Diversion Rehousing, Lane Independent Living Alliance, and Lane County Mobile Public Health. Those agencies all have private office spaces where they can meet with clients during scheduled times every week.

Removing barriers

Having a network of services available for the varied population that SVdP serves can remove barriers to access for guests at ESS. For one, SVdP staff have noted a rise in elderly and disabled clients at ESS and the agency’s other day- and night-shelter programs. Having SDS available on site, as just one example, will connect many vulnerable clients seeking day services or shelter support with additional resources to meet their specific needs.

“Having all these providers in one place has been incredibly beneficial,” noted an SDS representative. “It not only helps bridge essential programs but also offers vital support to individuals experiencing homelessness, especially those who may not know where to begin or how to navigate available resources. I also really appreciate the streamlined appointment system, which makes it easy to schedule and follow up with clients.”

Shared commitment

Sara Smith is a case manager with SVdP who works at the Dawn to Dawn congregate shelter site, also located along Highway 99 not far from the ESS.

“From day one,” she said, “I’ve witnessed the kindness, dedication, and resourcefulness of my colleagues and the community partners who have started at the SRC. Everyone is passionate about the mission, and it’s clear that we all share a genuine commitment to making a difference in the lives of those facing homelessness.

“The work we do at the SRC is centered around proving real solutions to the challenges faced by the homeless community,” Smith continued. “We connect people with resources they may have never had access to — things like job assistance, Social Security services, insurance assistance, food stamp assistance, vital healthcare services, and housing assistance. We do this by giving them the tools and resources they need to regain stability and independence.”